Protect Your Feet

Pronation

Throughout life most of us are constantly walking, jogging or running, but we often times don’t pay attention to the pronation in our step. Most of us don’t even have an idea for what pronation is. Pronation is the inward movement of the foot as it rolls to distribute the force of impact of the ground and is critical to proper shock absorption.

There are 3 types of pronation; normal pronation, overpronation and underpronation, and can all have an effect on which orthotic shoes or arch supports to use.

Normal Pronation

You are likely to have normal pronation if the soles of your shoes show wear in an S-shaped pattern. With normal pronation the foot rolls inward about 15% before coming in complete contact with the ground and can support your weight easily. 

Overpronation

With overpronation, the foot rolls inward more than 15%. This leads to the foot and ankle having problems stabilizing the body, resulting in shock that isn’t absorbed as efficiently. Overpronation can also cause calluses, bunions, runners knee and Achilles tendinitis.

Underpronation

Underpronation is when there is an insufficient roll of the foot after landing. The inward movement of the foot rolls less than 15%. The force of impact is concentrated on a smaller area and is not distributed efficiently. Underpronation causes extra stress on the foot, which can lead to Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. You can notice underpronation when the outer edge of your running shoes wears out sooner. 

Whatever the situation may be, we, at Great Steps believe stretching is an important factor regardless if you have overpronation or underpronation. We also recommend you speak to an expert before purchasing your next pair of shoes or insoles so that you can prevent any further complications.

If you have any further questions please contact us at www.GreatStepsOP.com or give us a call at (320) 229-1742